Protector for growing crops



ATTORNEY INVE`NT R If-IMSI) 01461;]v BY @#l .Lx

' Feb. 25, r1930. F. M. sHoREY PROTECTOR FOR GROWING CROPS Filed Jan. 2l, 1928 Patented Feb. 25, y193() nani) M. siIonY', or MODESTO, GALIFORNrA :PROTECTOR FOR GROWING onors Application led January 21, 1928. Serial No. 248,319:

, This invention relates to devices for protecting growingy crops from the harmful effects of the elements, especially to a device for protecting deciduous and other fruits 5 from damage by frost. k

The principal object of my invention'is to provide a device for the purpose which is arranged as an kindividual protector for each tree or vine, to be permanently mounted in 10 connection therewith, and having curtains to extend around the tree and enable thecrop `thereon to be protected at any time between the setting of the blossom and the maturing 'ofthe' fruit, fromrexposure to frost and also 15 Vfrom the harmfuleffects of severe or drying winds.

Atthe same time, the curtains are mounted f in such a manner rvthat when they are not n needed they are out of the way so that they 20 Offer no material interference with the free passage ofthe suns rays. to the tree. Also the curtains are then themselves protected y against deterioration from the action of sun or rain.

A further object of the invention is to a1'- range the curtains so that they may be quickly moved to a protecting position or as quickly retracted. The device while permanently mounted infconnection with the tree, offers no interference with the placing of a fumigating hood over the tree as is done at a certain time of the year.

' As a result of the usefof this device, especially in connection with orange trees, I have found from actual experiment that the Yfruit on one side of a tree, which was protected against the ravages of frost, etc., yby the curtains, attained its full growth, color and ila-vor, while-the fruit on the other side 4 of the same tree leftunprotected was stunted y in size, frost-bitten, and of poor'color.

These objectsI accomplish by Imeans of such j i structure and relative arrangement of parts d' as will fully appear by a `perusal of the following specification and claims. c

Inthe drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views: f

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevationof my prol tecting device arranged in connection with a tree showing the curtains rolled up.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the curtains lowered.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a curtain roller and curtain thereon showing the supporting bracket for the curtain roller and the protecting hood for the rolled-up curtain.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an arm supporting cap for the main standard or post.

eferring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral l denotes a post preferably a galvanized pipe which is sunk into'the ground a certain distance and extends upwardly adjacent the'trunk of the tree to a short distance above the top thereof. This post is preferably made of two or more lengths of pipe, detachably connected together yby com- Inon sleeve couplings 2,v so that the height of the completed post may be varied according to the height of the tree and may be extended as the tree grows.

A cap 3 is detachably screwed on to the top section of the post, said cap having a plurality 7 of radially proJecting ears or lugs 4. Arms 5 are secured to `these lugs and extend radially and downwardly therefrom to connections at their outer ends with brackets 6. Each bracket is arranged to support the adjacent ends of a pairof curtain rollers 7 of standard form such as are used in connectionwith window shades, and which are provided with spring wind-up means which is of common use and which it is not therefore deemed necessary to show. The rollers and their brackets enclose a horizontal area which is substantially that of the tree to be protected, and while I responding number of brackets and arms may be used if desired or found expedient. Y. Flexible curtains 8 are wound on the roll'- ers, thelength of these curtainsbeing sufficient to depend to adjacent the ground when unrolled as shown in Fig. 2. The curtains when thus unrolled or lowered substantial'- ly enclose and surround the tree on all sides as will be evident except for the unavoidable vertical openings between adjacent curtains.

show a three roller arrangement,y p 1t will be obvious that four or more and a cormight tend Flexible tapes 9 or the like may be connectedV to the vertical adjacent edges of the curtains to enable the same to be drawn together somewhat and prevent them from possibly flapping in the wind. The curtains are made of suitable material so as to be strong, flexible and waterproof and yet inexpensive. Vari-y ous materials having these quaiications may be used but I have in mind to employ a tough grade of suitably treated paper which I have found from actual experiment to be excellent for the purpose. v

To protect the curtains when rolled up, inverted trough-shaped hoods 10 extend over the curtain rollers and between the corresponding brackets, being secured inpplace' by screwing said hoods to Vflanges 11 which project outwardly from the bracket faces and are preferably concentric with the rollers.

Apart from serving as a protector for the curtains when rolled up, these hoods also serve as braces between the brackets, taking Y off any strain from the curtain rollers which to cause the same 'to bend.

The cap arms 5 and theV brackets are sov shapedl and connected together as to eliminate any sharp projections or the like which might catch a fumigating hood when the same is being placed about or removed from the tree, and in factthe-structure is beneficial rather than detrimental since it forms a support for the hood. j

To raise thecurtains it is only necessary to j untie the tapes and manipulate the curtains in the same manner as ordinaryV window shades are handled, since then roll up of themselves on the rollers. TiVhen the curtains are thus rolled up the area occupied thereby is not suflicient to interfere with the proper action of the sun on the tree, and the structure is as not to interfere with fruit picking, `pruning, or other operations. f f

Allvpartsof the structure are detachably connected together, so that it is an easy matter to assemble or dismantlethe structure,

y.ly surround a tree,

`heins provided along thejside edges then outof the way so I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

v1. A tree protector including a plurality of curtains to depend about and substantialrollers about which said curtains are adapted to wind, a common bracket for the. adjacentv ends of adjacent rollers, varms connected to'all the brackets, and a member supporting all said arms in common at a given 2. In a tree protecting device, a fabric curtain and flexible metal ribbons enclosed in curtain.k Y Y In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

distance from the ground.Y

rain)V M. sHonEY'.

of the j vse' the curtains will especially since each part of it is relatively` small and light.

lNhen the curtains are made of paper, they are preferably reinforced along their edges by ribbons 12 of flexible and non-rust metal such as coppergthe curtainsy being formed with hems along such edges in which the ribbons are inclosed. j

F rom 'the foregoing description ity will be readily seen that I have produced such a idevice as substantially fultillsthe objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,still in practiceY such deviations` Il fr from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what i 

